Clinopyroxene dissolution records rapid magma ascent

Neave, David A. and Maclennan, John (2020) Clinopyroxene dissolution records rapid magma ascent. Frontiers in Earth Science. ISSN 2296-6463 DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00188

Text cpx_ascent_r_02.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (15MB)

Abstract

Magma ascent rates control volcanic eruption styles. However, the rates at which basaltic magmas ascend through the crust remain highly uncertain. Although recent studies have successfully exploited records of decompression driven degassing to estimate the rates at which H2O-rich basalts ascend, such approaches cannot readily be applied to primitive and H2O-poor basalts that erupt in ocean island and mid-ocean ridge settings. Here we present magma ascent rates obtained by modelling the dissolution of clinopyroxene crystals in a wehrlitic nodule from the primitive Borgarhraun lava flow in North Iceland. High-Al2O3 clinopyroxene core compositions are consistent with crystallisation near the Moho (_800 MPa), whereas low-Al2O3 clinopyroxene rims and inclusion compositions are consistent with crystallisation at or near the surface. We interpret low-Al2O3 rims and inclusions as the crystallised remnants of boundary layers formed by the dissolution of high-Al2O3 clinopyroxene during magma ascent. By combining characteristic rim dissolution lengths of 50–100 m with published experimental calibrations of clinopyroxene dissolution behaviour, we estimate that the Borgarhraun magma most likely decompressed and ascended at rates of 3.0–15 kPa.s-1 and 0.11–0.53 m.s-1 respectively. These rates are slightly faster than published estimates obtained by modelling the diffusive re-equilibration of olivine crystals, suggesting that the Borgarhraun magma either accelerated upwards or that it stalled briefly at depth prior to final ascent. Comparisons with other basaltic eruptions indicate that the H2O-poor magma that fed the dominantly effusive Borgarhraun eruption ascended at a similar rate to some H2O-rich magmas that have fed explosive eruptions in arc settings. Thus, magma ascent rates do not appear to correlate simply with magma H2O contents. Overall, our findings confirm that primitive and H2O-poor basalts can traverse the crust within days, and may erupt with little precursory warning of magma ascent.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	2020AREP; IA76
Subjects:	05 - Petrology - Igneous, Metamorphic and Volcanic Studies
Divisions:	05 - Petrology - Igneous, Metamorphic and Volcanic Studies 08 - Green Open Access
Journal or Publication Title:	Frontiers in Earth Science
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00188
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	14 May 2020 23:55
Last Modified:	10 Feb 2021 17:22
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/4742

Actions (login required)

View Item